Method of washing aluminum



Feb. 23, 1954 E. w; DETJEN METHOD OF WASHING ALUMINUM KITCHEN UTENSILS 2 Sheeis-Shget Original Filed July z'i, 1951 INVENT'OR I EDGAR w. DETJEN ATTORNEYS Feb. 3,1954.-

I E. W.' DEZTJIEN v METHOD OF WASHING ALUMINUM KITCHEN UTENSILS 2 shBtS-sneex 2 7 Original Filed July 31,, 195-1 v \NV'ENTOR' EDGAR W.DETJEN BY I 1 5 ATTORNEYS Reiuued Feb. 23, 1954 Ms'rnon 0F WASHING ALUMINUM Krrcnmv UTENSILS 'Edgar W. Detjen, Kiel, Wis., assignor to Stoelting I Brothers Company, Kiel, Wia, a corporation "Original No, 2,633,437, da

ted MaI-ch 31, 1953, Se-

rial No. 239,520, July 31, 1951. Application for reissue October 14, 1953, Serial No. 386.115

' 2 Claims. (oi. 134-251 Matter enclosed in heavy brackets I: appears in theoriginai patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by'reissue.

This invention appertains to industrial washing processes for cleaning metal objects, and

more particularly to a novel method or process of washing and drying aluminum kitchen utensils and like hollow ware, as the same leave the forming or drawing machines.

During the fabrication of aluminum utensils, the same become soiled with -grease,aluminum dust and the like, and it is necessary to thoroughly wash the same before the utensils leave the factory. some are wholly cleaned by hand, and others are partially machine-cleaned and finished byhand. Obviously, this is an expensive and time consuming method.

It is necessary and advisable stores a bright, clean utensil, so that the same will be pleasing to the eye of a prospective purchaser.

One of the difficultles in producing a nice appearing aluminum utensil for sale, is that the same ordinarily has so-called water spots or I blemishes thereon. To my knowledge, there is no means for giving the utensils a complete machine wash, which entirely eliminates these blemishes.

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of my present invention to provide an improved processor method for giving aluminum kitchen and like utensils, a complete machine wash, for producing bright, unblemished utensils.

' -Another salient object of my invention isthe provision of a method or process for machine washing aluminum kitchen and like utensils, which consists in, first, subjecting the utensils to a chemical bath for removing the aluminum dust and grease; second, rinsing the utensils with clear water, and third, subjecting'the utensils to a final wash of a [purified] deionized water containing no or a minimum amount of] impurities, (which produce blemishes), but which -may contain a wetting agent, for breaking the surface tension of the water to insure uniform draining of the utensils, and then immediately drying the utensils.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as-w'ill be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanylng'drawings, in which drawings,

Figure l'is a. perspective view of a machine for washing, cleaning and drying utensils-according to my novel method, the view being of a diagrammatic nature. w

- Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the machine, the section being taken on to place in the 2 the line 2-2 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, this view also being of a diagrammatic nature. 7

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the machine, taken on the line 3-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter M generally indicates a machine for carrying out the novel method and process for washing, cleaning, and drying kitchen utensils or like hollow ware U.

The utensils U can be of any character or type,

such as pots and pans, percolator bodies, and the like.

The machine M includes a chemical washing and degreasing unit 5, a clear water rinse unit 6, a

[purified] deionized water and alcohol rinse unit I, and a drying unit 8.

Extending through the machine is an endless conveyor belt 9 for carrying the utensils through the various units of the machine in proper sequence. The belt 8, is driven at a' desired rate of speed in any preferred way, such as from an elec-- tric motor ill. The belt is formed from open work material so that sprays of water can be impinged on the inner faces of the utensils, as well as around the tops and sides thereof.

The chemical 'degreaser and washing unit 5, includes a tank I l, for thechemical, which may or may not be heated. The chemical from the tank l l is forced through a series of spraying members i2 by means of a motor driven pump IS. A drain ll, can also be provided for this tank II. The specific pump, spraying means and chemical utilized, form no part of the present invention. The chemical washing unit, is so built as to remove all grease from the utensils, as well as aluminum dust and other debris.

The clear water rinse unit 6, is employed for thoroughly washing theutensils to remove the chemical solution therefrom, and to further carry away any debris that might be remaining on the utensil-s. The unit v6', also includes a tank l5, for

the reception of water obtained from any suitable source of supply, such as a city water main. The

" water from the main can be directly supplied to a series of spraying members it. If the water is not under suflicient pressure, a motor driven pump can be utilized. The tank 15, is provided with a drain l6, which can leaddirectly to asewer.

As brought out in the objects of this specification, where clear water from a water main or well is utilized, for rinsing water, spots' and blemishes appear on the utensils after-drying. This .is caused from the impurities in the water and from the fact that the water does not drain uni formly from the receptacles, but tends to run off the utensils in rivulets or drops. This concentration of water increases the depositing of the impurities from the water on the utensils.

Hence, as heretofore set out, the method includes a rinse of a certain character for washing the clear water off of the utensils, and to distribute the water over the utensils in such a way that there will be a uniform draining Unit I accomplishes this purpose. Unit 1, also includes a'tank H, which is filled with chemically purified water. The water utilized is purified to a high degree to remove all impurities therefrom, and

water from a city main, or other source of supply can be forced through a deionizer' unit H) of a type now found in the open market. The inlet of the unit is coupled to a supply pipe i9, and a valve '20 is incorporated in the pipe tocontrol theflow of water into the deionizer. The outlet end of the deionizer i8 is connected to the tank I] by a pipe 2|, and the flow of purified water through the pipe can be controlled by a valve 22. Arranged within the unit 1 area series of sprays or headers 23, for subjecting all faces of the utensils to the [purified] deionized water rinse and the water from the tank 11, is forcedunder pressure to the sprays 23, by means of a motor driven pump 24. As also heretofore brought out, it is necessary to employ [purified] deionized water, as it is by the use of this water, that I am enabled to eliminate all blemishes or water spots on the utensils. If desirable, an element can be used with this [purified] deionized water to break the-surface tension of the water from the utensils. A certain proportion of alcohol, or other equivalent wetting agent, can be incorporated in the water. This, however, canv be added to the tank from time to time, as the strength thereof decreases, and the tank when necessary, can be drained, by. means of a valve controlled outlet pipe 25.

The drying unit 8, is employed for quickly subjecting the utensils to blasts of hot air, as the utensils leave the unit I, so as to facilitate the uniform drying of the utensils. Hence, the drying unit 8, has incorporated therein, a transversely extending hollow'manifold 2B, which encompasses the belt 9 and this manifold is provided with a series of outlet openings, facing toward all faces of the utensils. Air under pressure is supplied to the manifold 6, by means of a motor driven air impeller 21. The air can be heated in any preferred way.' In some instances. there may be small puddles-left onthe bottoms of the inverted receptacles, and to spread the water out from the puddles, I employ an air nozzle 28, at the entrance of theunit 9. This nozzle points directly down toward the receptacles and communicates with the outlet of the air impeller From the foregoing description, it can be seen that my method of washing and cleaning aluminum utensils consists in first, degreasing and washing the utensils in unit 5; second rinsing the chemical off by means of clear water in unit 6; third, completely rinsing the utensils by means of a [purified] deionized water bath, including a water surface tension breaking element, and,

.fourth, immediately drying the utensils. By my method, I can quickly and efficiently machine wash aluminum utensils without water blemishes, and give the utensils a bright appearance which will attract the eye of prospective purchasers.

[In the claim, where the term distilled water is utilized, it is to be understood that I mean any purified water from which impurities have been removed] The advantage of deionized water is that it is free of all dissolved mineral solids. After the final rinse with deionized water and'when the article is heat dried, all of the water evaporates leaving a clean unspotted metal finish. If the final rinse water contains solids, these would be left behind in the form of water spots, which are actually deposits of sodium chloride, calcium carbonate, magnesium sulphateund other compounds which occur naturally in water. Ordinary purified water contains mineral solids, with the exception, probably of distilled water. The

, cost of distilled water for continuous commercial purposes renders the use thereof prohibitive in most instances I do not have to use alcohol therewith.

' Also it is to be understood that where I use the term alcohol in the claims, such term also includes any equivalent element.

Changes in details may be made without departing fromthe spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

l. The method of washing aluminum kitchen utensils to produce a bright; uniform clean appearance, which consists, first, in subjecting the utensils to a chemical bath capable of removing grease and aluminum dust; second, subjecting the utensils to a clear water rinse to remove the chemical; third, subjecting the utensils to a [distilled] deionized water and alcohol bath to remove water blemishes and to evenly distribute the water over the receptacles and finally, immediately drying the utensils after the same have passed through the deionized [distilled] water and alcohol bath.

2. The method of washing aluminum kitchen utensils to produce a bright uniform clean appearance, which consists, first, in subjecting the utensils to a chemical bath capable of removing grease and aluminum dust; second, subjecting the utensils to a clear water rinse to remove the chemical; third, subjecting the utensils to a deionized water bath to remove water blemishes and," finally, immediately drying the utensils after the same have been passed through the deionized water bath.

EDGAR w. DETJEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,554,483 Bailey Sept. 22, 1925 2,236,445 Pfelffer Mar. 25, 1941 2,399,134 Miller Apr. 23, 1946 2,541,901 Zademach Feb. 13, 1951 

